The chief executive of NatWest is under mounting pressure over the closure of Nigel Farage’s bank accounts after the Prime Minister spoke out against the “wrong” decision.

Senior MPs said Dame Alison Rose should “take responsibility” after documents showed Mr Farage was targeted by Coutts, a subsidiary of NatWest, because of his political views.

The Telegraph can disclose that Dame Alison sat next to Simon Jack, the BBC’s business editor, at a charity dinner the night before Mr Jack wrote a story claiming Mr Farage had been de-banked for “commercial” reasons – a story now described as “concerning” by the banking watchdog. 

Both the BBC and NatWest both refused to comment or answer any questions about the dinner.

Responding to news that Mr Jack and Dame Alison had dined together before the BBC published its story, Mr Farage said: “They are all part of the same, metropolitan elite, Remainer club.”

Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, described the blacklisting of Mr Farage as “sinister” and Rishi Sunak promised to “crack down” on banks that de-bank customers simply for exercising their right to free speech.